Pushing meals to market

Breakaway Foods&#153; is touting its new line of paperboard cylinder-packed IncrEdibles&#153; portable meals as &#147;a revolutionary new way for consumers to enjoy their favorite foods&#44 and the ultimate meal for people on the go.&#148; IncrEdibles are microwaveable meals packaged in a printed&#44 spiral-wound paperboard cylinder that becomes a &#147;self-server&#44&#148; according to the company&#44 when consumers push up a plastic stick that&#146;s inserted into the cylinder&#146;s bottom.

A heat-sealable membrane covers the top of the cylinder. The hand-held server concept is similar to that used for novelty ice creams.

The CEO for Columbus OH-based Breakaway Foods Nick Kosanovich is also the vice president of marketing for Norse Dairy Systems (Columbus OH) an equipment manufacturer that also makes the machinery used to fill such novelty ice creams.

At the Worldwide Food Expo held in Chicago in October Packaging World spoke with Kosanovich. When pressed he wouldnt reveal any details about the equipment materials or the packaging process.

Robert E. Berman the products inventor and Breakaway Foods president says When we tested IncrEdibles with consumers of all ages they not only told us how much they loved the taste and convenience but . . . also how the products would fit into their busy lifestyles.

Breakaway Foods began shipping IncrEdibles to foodservice outlets and convenience stores in the East in November. The meals will also be sold in test markets at Amoco Split Second convenience stores in Philadelphia. Subsequent availability will be in supermarkets club stores sports/entertainment arenas vending carts/kiosks and other channels according to a company press release. Sold frozen the microwaveable products carry suggested retail prices ranging from $1.49 to $1.99 per 4 ?-oz serving.

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